Running Tracks Continuing our series focusing on Scottish labels, Craigie Knowes co-founders Mitch Hunter and Max Spittal talk us through the label’s history and their new reissue label Wormhole Wisdom
Interview: Nadia Younes
W
hile their logo may suggest otherwise, Craigie Knowes is definitely not moving at a snail’s pace. Forming in October 2015, the Glasgow-based record label run by Mitch Hunter and Max Spittal has rapidly built a reputation as one of the most exciting and interesting new imprints in Scotland. So much so that in July this year they were invited by electronic music tastemakers Boiler Room to play a headline set in their London studio, just a day ahead of the label’s showcase at London nightclub FOLD. Despite their rising success, however, the pair remain humble. “We don’t want to say whether or not [the Boiler Room show] went well as it’s probably best to let the people who watched it make that call,” they say. Since its inception, the label has championed many local artists, releasing tracks by the likes of The Burrell Connection and Sebastian Swarm, but also setting their sights even higher with releases from bigger international names including Textasy and Jensen Interceptor. When it comes to selecting which tracks to release though, they aren’t affected by an artist’s status. Instead, they take a pretty simple approach to business: “If we like it, we’ll release it.” A stand-out in the label’s catalogue is their annual War Child Fundraiser compilations, proceeds from which are donated to the
Craigie Knowes
War Child charity. Past editions have featured tracks by huge names in dance music, such as Bicep, Move D and Shanti Celeste, and the pair are currently putting the latest compilation in the series into production, with tracks by No Moon, DJ Python and more. “Everyone should give a little back if they have the power and time to do so,” they say. “We try to bring in a mix of local producers and friends; artists we like but haven’t worked with before and artists
that are on our label fairly often.” But running one label isn’t enough for Hunter and Spittal. They’re also currently working with Glasgow-based DJ and producer Parts Unknown, (real name George Elliott), on a reissue label called Wormhole Wisdom, reworking old, unheard recordings. “Looking for the original recordings we were interested in has been amazing, both for us and the artists responsible,” they say. “Getting to know these
guys who came from a different generation of electronic music is great; how their lives have changed opens your mind up to see where the story goes in 10, 20, 30 years.” As well as running record labels, the pair also DJ together under the Craigie Knowes name, and this month sees them join the line-up on Slam’s Maximum Pressure Halloween event at SWG3 (1 Nov). On the night they’ll play alongside a host of techno heavyweights, with headliners including Helena Hauff, Karenn and Paula Temple. The night after, they’ll return to their home city of Perth to support Detroit underground legend DJ Bone at The Ice Factory. Along with even more gigs lined up across the UK and Europe in the coming months, they also have some new releases planned. Showing no signs of slowing down any time soon, the pair are set to release EPs by SJ Tequilla and James Shinra on Craigie Knowes, as well as a three-part series of reissues by Grumptronix and Diode on Wormhole Wisdom, before the year ends, hopefully followed by a well-deserved break. Craigie Knowes play Maximum Pressure: Halloween, SWG3, Glasgow, 1 Nov; Voyage x Groovement: DJ Bone, The Ice Factory, Perth, 2 Nov; Craigie Knowes: 4 Years, La Cheetah Club, Glasgow, 23 Nov facebook.com/craigieknowes
Club, Actually An unmissable B2B, an underground legend and an Amazon fundraiser make up just some of this month’s clubbing highlights across Scotland
Sensu: Midland Sub Club, Glasgow, 1 Nov Just a couple of days after the release of his first record in three years – a four-track EP entitled The Alchemy of Circumstance – Harry Agius returns to Glasgow under his musical alias Midland. The EP was released on Agius’ own Graded label, which he formed in 2013, and was described as “the sound of R2D2 having a meltdown in Ikea”; strange as it sounds, it’s a pretty fitting description. Taking a step away from playing festival main stages across the world, don’t miss the chance to catch him in the Subbie basement.
Voyage x Groovement: DJ Bone The Ice Factory, Perth, 2 Nov DJ Bone may not be the biggest name to come out of Detroit but he’s certainly one of the most respected. The alias of Eric Dulan, DJ Bone has been a key figure in Detroit’s techno scene for well over 20 years and continues to pave his own trail. And as if that wasn’t enough, Lunacy resident and producer AISHA, Glasgow-based label and DJ duo Craigie Knowes and Dundee’s Hilltown Disco are all on support duty, alongside Voyage and Groovement residents.
Words: Nadia Younes Illustration: Katie Malone
STORYTIME presents Axel Boman The Bongo Club, Edinburgh, 8 Nov Axel Boman has his fingers in many metaphorical pies. Outside of his solo output, the Swedish DJ and producer also makes music as one half of Talaboman, alongside John Talabot, and helps to run the Studio Barnhus label with Kornél Kovács and Petter Nordkvist. However, this show, put on by irregular promoters STORYTIME, sees Boman make his long-awaited Edinburgh debut, alongside local support from Edinburgh-based selectors Miss World and Andrea Montalto.
La Cheetah 10th Birthday Part 3: Ben UFO & Joy Orbison La Cheetah Club, Glasgow, 2 Nov La Cheetah’s 10th birthday celebrations just keep getting better and things (almost) draw to a close with a truly unmissable showdown between Ben UFO and Joy Orbison. The former is one third of the founding trio behind esteemed record label Hessle Audio while the latter co-runs the equally esteemed Hinge Finger imprint, but together they’re a force to be reckoned with. If you’re yet to see either of them play, there could be no better setting or no better occasion than this.
Nightrave & Room 2: Amazon Fundraiser Room 2, Glasgow, 8 Nov A team of Glasgow’s finest DJs come together in a time of desperate need to raise money for those affected by the fires in the Amazon rainforest. LEZZER QUEST, Liam Doc, LISALööF and Nightwave will all play sets on the night, alongside an as yet unannounced special guest. All of the takings will be donated directly to the Huni Kuin tribe, a group of indigenous people based in the village of Nova Fortaleza, whose lives are being threatened by the catastrophic fires. Red Bull & Dimensions present Get Down Early Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh, 21 Nov Red Bull team up with Dimensions once again for the second edition of their Get Down Early series, which sees usual club line-ups flipped on their heads as regular headliners play in a support slot ahead of emerging talents who are given headliner status. The series makes use of Dimensions’ DJ Directory, a talent development space created by the festival which supports rising DJ talent across the UK. For the Edinburgh edition, Swiss DJ Sassy J will warm up for founder of record label Tiff’s Joints, Born Cheating. theskinny.co.uk/clubs
November 2019
CLUBS
Review
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